Douglass Cassel

“The Common Good, Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights” will be a conversation on the translation of “development” into the common good. As Fr. Williams puts it, “Catholic social teaching employs the term ‘common good’ to convey the idea that we ought to try to shape a world where all are able to share in the wealth and other benefits that come from development.”

Fr. Williams will talk about his work with the UN Global Compact, which is intended to increase and diffuse the benefits of global economic development through voluntary corporate policies and programs. By promoting human and labor rights, enhancing care for the environment, and encouraging anti-corruption measures, the ten principles of the Global Compact are designed to enable more peaceful and just societies.

Cassel will discuss the work of the Center for Civil and Human Rights (CCHR) and how “development” can sometimes result in the violation of human rights. The CCHR is currently engaged in a project in Guatemala examining the impact of one corporation’s mining activities on the local community.

The Ford Program series, “Discussions on Development” occurs each semester to encourage thoughtful discussion on the interdisciplinary nature of human development. Each discussion allows two to three Notre Dame professors from different disciplines to focus on a specific topic and its relation to development.